News

Unexpected graces

Life passes so quickly, and graces often come to us in ways and at times that we least expect. Jesus tells us to "Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can...

Pictured here are those who organized the Great Fall Get Together on Saturday, Oct. 25 at the Starfire Event Center. From left, Molly Hendrickson, Brad Milbrath, Penny Vought, Christy Easton, Ann Staloch, Monica Priebe, Tara Bjerke, Ann Johannson, Diane Beckmann, Katie Youngberg, and Mikhail Rostislavovich.

Art Center's Great Fall Get Together

The Starfire Event Center saw a veritable who's who of Waseca County walk in the door on Saturday, Oct. 25 for the Waseca Art Center's Great Fall Get Together, and this year's celebration, which took place from 6 – 9 p.m., was a truly gala event, as the Waseca Art Center began celebrating 50...

District piloting new math curriculum

During the October 23 Waseca school board meeting, Superintendent Eric Hudspith gave the board a brief update on the district’s strategic plan. Under Learning For All, fall assessment data shows growth, demonstrating the effectiveness of both instructional strategies and interventions. He said...

County approves cybersecurity coverage

At the request of the county Information Technology (IT) department, county commissioners voted during their Oct. 21 meeting to approve about $12,500 for additional annual cybersecurity insurance coverage. IT department head Judy Hiller placed the request based on information shared by the...

CHEERING LOUD - Waseca resident Kathy Youngberg completed a treatment regimen this month that included chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. She is pictured here with the team of nurses who helped her through chemotherapy, ringing a bell that celebrates the end of that type of treatment.

Kathy Youngberg rings the bell

“I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy,” says Kathy Youngberg about the past 13 months. “It’s scary, it’s uncomfortable, it can lead to embarrassing moments. “But it’s not the end of the world. You can get through it.” Youngberg, 54, is a lifelong area resident with two grown sons:...

NEW PHASE - Brad Connors of Waseca's iWealth financial advising firm has authored "Fish Don't Clap," a book meant to help people consider how they can make retirement not just the end of their professional career, but also the beginning of a fulfilling new phase in their lives. Pioneer photo by Deb Bently

'Fish Don't Clap' sees large-scale release

“I’ve seen it happen again and again,” comments financial advisor Brad Connors, founder of Waseca’s iWealth. “People retire, and then they don’t know what to do with themselves. “I want to share the information in this book so it can make people’s lives more purposeful.” Connors is...

INVESTIGATORS - Kimberly Juarez and Kari Haslip are two members of Coexisting with the Afterlife Team (C.A.T.) Paranormal, a Waseca non-profit organization which carries out investigations and offers consulting services. C.A.T. Paranormal will be giving a presentation at the Waseca County Historical Society the evening of Oct. 30. Pioneer photo by Deb Bently

C.A.T. Paranormal to present at Historical Society

“We’re not about sensationalism,” says Kimberly Juarez. “We’re in this to help people.” Juarez is the founder and leader of the Waseca non-profit organization Coexisting [with the] Afterlife Team–almost always shortened to C.A.T. Paranormal. Also active in the group are Kari Haslip, Dorothy...

HISTORY - Dan Hrdlichka in front of his 1941 GMC 1500 (with the engine still in it) on a warm autumn Saturday morning, October 17, 2025. Pioneer photo by Ben Revermann

Area lawn graced by 1941 GMC

On the morning of Oct. 17, Dan and Sherri Hrdlichka’s yard in Blooming Grove Township was bright with fall colors and sunshine. Adding to the character and beauty of their space is a 1941 GMC1500 single cab truck. With a max load weight of 4600lbs. and 76 horsepower, this now-retired machine...

SINGING FOR GOOD - The Waseca Chorale will be debuting two of the numbers that will be part of the group's holiday concert during a guest appearance Sunday, Oct. 26 at Christ Community Church in Waseca. The majority of the concert will be presented by the Woodbury Orchestra and Choir, a volunteer group which performs to benefit food shelves. All proceeds from the concert will benefit the Waseca Area Food Shelf. Here, we see the Chorale during its 2024 Holiday concert. Pioneer photo by Deb Bently

Chorale voices to benefit food shelf

The Waseca Chorale will be debuting two of the numbers that will be included in the group’s Nov. 30 holiday concert during a special “Rhythms of Life” performance scheduled at Christ Community Church in Waseca at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26. The 55-member local group will present “Nata Lux” and...

PALOOZA - Avery, 6; Ophelia, 8; and Peyton, 9 concentrated on decorating their pumpkins at Aspyn Acres on Oct. 18. Pioneer photo by Deb Bently

Aspyn Acres event is a Pumpkin Palooza

The large numbers of families and children at Aspyn Acres’ “Pumpkin Palooza” exceeded expectations and delighted event organizers the afternoon of Saturday, Oct. 18. Aspyn Acres, located a few miles north of Waseca off county highway 22, is a not-for-profit organization with two purposes,...